After stumbling to a 5-12 finish in a season that began with playoff aspirations, the Washington Commanders are pressing the reset button-and hard. Head coach Dan Quinn wasted no time making big changes, parting ways with both of his coordinators in what feels like a clear message: the status quo isn’t cutting it.
Let’s start with the obvious. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is out, and that move was written on the wall.
Quinn had already taken over defensive play-calling duties during the season, signaling a shift in trust and direction. Whitt now has the freedom to pursue other opportunities, and Quinn is officially putting his stamp on the defense.
On the offensive side, Kliff Kingsbury is also gone, reportedly due to philosophical differences about the direction of the offense. That’s a polite way of saying they weren’t on the same page-and with the offense sputtering, Quinn opted to start fresh.
But here's where it gets interesting: instead of turning to familiar faces or seasoned NFL play-callers, Quinn made a bold pivot. He hired two coordinators-David Blough on offense and Daronte Jones on defense-who have never called plays at the NFL level.
That’s not just a shake-up; that’s a full-on gamble. But it’s also a sign that Quinn isn’t afraid to take risks if it means getting this team back on track.
Blough and Jones come with strong reputations in coaching circles. They’re known as forward-thinking minds with fresh ideas-exactly the kind of approach that could jolt this roster out of its current rut.
Of course, innovation without execution doesn’t win football games. This move could either be a masterstroke or a cautionary tale, but either way, it signals a clear shift in energy and expectations inside the building.
And that shift? It’s going to ripple throughout the roster and staff.
Quinn is setting a new tone-one where buy-in is non-negotiable. If you're not aligned with the vision, you’re not sticking around.
That kind of culture change puts pressure on everyone, from players to position coaches.
With that in mind, here’s one name that immediately finds himself on the hot seat following these hires:
Jason Simmons - Defensive Pass Game Coordinator
Daronte Jones is stepping in to run the defense, and with that comes the expectation that he’ll want to shape the unit in his own image. That could mean changes to the coaching staff, including the future of Jason Simmons.
Simmons has been part of a defensive staff that’s struggled to find consistency over the past two seasons. And with Jones’ background in coaching defensive backs-he’s made his name developing secondaries-there’s a natural overlap in responsibilities that could make Simmons’ role redundant.
Adding to the intrigue, Simmons is reportedly set to interview for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator job. That could be a smart move on his part.
If he lands it, he avoids a potentially awkward situation in Washington. If not, he may be facing an uphill battle to remain on staff.
There’s no official word yet, but the writing’s on the wall. When a new coordinator comes in-especially one with a strong track record in a specific area-they usually bring in their own people. Simmons may be one of the first dominoes to fall as Jones reshapes the defensive identity.
Bottom line: Dan Quinn is making it clear that this is his team now. And with bold hires come high stakes.
Everyone in the building knows it. The margin for error just got a lot smaller, and for some, the clock is already ticking.